Development Director, Local Markets

Chalkbeat is the growing nonprofit news organization telling the story of education in America.  As Chalkbeat expands we are seeking a gifts officer to join our team as the development director for bureaus in Denver, Memphis and one additional market, working closely with Chalkbeat’s Deputy Revenue Officer. The successful candidate would ideally be based in Denver or Memphis but remote work from elsewhere is possible for the right candidate.

The ideal candidate will be smart, organized, and entrepreneurial, with a track record of fundraising success. Past work as a journalist is a plus. A passion for journalism and an understanding of its importance to democracy is preferred.

This position will report to the Deputy Revenue Officer.

Responsibilities

• Create and execute fundraising and stewardship strategies for a portfolio of foundation and major donor supporters in up to three markets that have local Chalkbeat bureaus.
• Lead the development of long- and short-term plans to meet assigned revenue goals for campaign funding priorities. A key objective will be identifying, cultivating and converting new major donor and foundation prospects.
• Work with designated board members to develop personalized solicitation and stewardship touchpoints.
• Develop and oversee the planning and execution of one-on-one meetings, dinners and other events with the goal of creating targeted cultivation and stewardship opportunities.
• Work with the Chalkbeat development team to develop innovative stewardship and communication strategies.
• Assist in the development of research strategies and targeted areas for research, working closely with the development team and the prospects research.
• Establish strong relationships and lines of communication with other staff, working together to create accurate and informative messaging, increased donor awareness of key initiatives, and engaging donor cultivation events.

The ideal candidate would have:

• Passion for securing the future of journalism and equity in education for all children
• 2-5 years of front-line fundraising experience, preferably managing an active portfolio of individual donors and/or foundations
• A proven track record of securing annual gifts of $10,000 and above
• Entrepreneurial and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to exercise creativity and initiative in achieving gift goals
• A track record of meeting revenue goals
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, including strong grant writing and editing skills
• Proficient experience with fundraising databases
• A self-starter’s ability to get up to speed quickly and work independently
• Highly motivated, organized, flexible, and proactive
• Proven project management and task management ability in a deadline-driven environment
• Ability to work in an environment where multitasking is the norm, the pace is fast, and priorities will evolve
• Ability to work and collaborate with colleagues within and across departments
• Demonstrated ability to articulate the vision and mission of the organization
• Proficiency with office software, primarily the Google Suite, and Salesforce
• Bachelor's degree with significant work experience or a Master's degree in a related field

This is a full-time position with benefits. Chalkbeat offers a competitive salary, commensurate with experience, and a generous benefits package, including a paid winter recess.

About Chalkbeat:
Chalkbeat is the nonprofit news organization committed to covering one of America’s most important stories: the effort to improve schools for all children, especially those who have historically lacked access to a quality education. We are mission-driven journalists who believe that an independent local press is vital to ensuring that education improves. Currently in eight locations and growing, we seek to provide deep local coverage of education policy and practice that informs decisions and actions, leading to better schools. Read more about our mission and values.